Thames Valley Family Health Team (TVFHT) is pleased to announce it has assumed programming for the Paediatrics Virtual Urgent Care in Southwestern Ontario. This trusted service provides virtual urgent care for children and youth (ages 0–18) who require care for non-life-threatening concerns. Virtual appointments are available daily between 1:00 PM and 9:00 PM, and can be booked online.
“We are honoured to take on this leadership role in virtual urgent care in Ontario,” says Jill Strong, Executive Director, People & Performance, TVFHT. “We are grateful to the Children’s Hospital at LHSC for the foundational work they have done, and to our partners at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and Ontario Health for their collaboration. Together, we are improving population health through accessible, timely care that meets families where they are.”
Key highlights & updates
- Paediatric Virtual Urgent Care appointments are with a TVFHT primary care nurse practitioner. These clinicians are experienced in virtual care, and providing care to children and youth.
- Parents can book a same-day or next-day appointment for their child or youth and connect via secure video chat — no waiting room, no travel.
- Paediatric Virtual Urgent Care can help with a range of non-emergency medical issues, including:
- Rashes
- Fevers
- Pink eye
- Minor injuries
- Coughs and colds
- Common infections
- Medication questions
- If a child has serious symptoms (ex. difficulty breathing, severe pain, head injury, or seizures), parents should call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Low-barrier and inclusive care
This service is designed to reduce barriers that can prevent families from seeking timely care. Whether it’s transportation challenges, caregiving responsibilities for other children, limited access to in-person clinics, or balancing the need for care with busy work schedule, virtual urgent care offers a flexible solution.
Families can access care from home using a phone or computer, seven days a week, and outside of regular business hours. Translation support is available in over 200 languages, improving access for families who prefer care in a language other than English.
“Our team of nurse practitioners is experienced, compassionate, and deeply committed to providing high-quality care to every child and youth who needs it,” says Dr. Elizabeth Smith, Nurse Practitioner Transformation Lead, TVFHT. “We understand that not every family has the same access to care, and this service helps bridge that gap. By offering virtual urgent care that is inclusive and low-barrier, we’re advancing health equity in our region. TVFHT nurse practitioners are ready to lead this work and ensure families receive the care they deserve when and where they need it.”
This program is provided in partnership with Ontario Health and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. It is available to anyone in the Ontario Health West region who has an Ontario Health Card, and helps reduce pressure on emergency departments and urgent care clinics, creating capacity in the system and advancing health equity.
Appointments can be booked online or by calling 1-877-620-5627 any day between 1:00 PM and 9:00 PM.